Method of and device for starting internal combustion engines



Sept. 10, 1940. H. c. HUGHES METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed segt. 23, 1938 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Harry 0. Hughes, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 23, 1938, Serial No. 231,393

3 Claims.

My invention relates to the ignition of internal combustion engines, and more especially to ignition of those used on motor vehicles.

The object of my invention is to supply an especially hot spark for ignition of the fuel in the engine when it has to be started under unusually adverse conditions, by relatively simple means readily applicable to ignition devices already widely used. Such conditions arise when the engine is very cold, or moves stifily for any reason, as with bad lubrication or worn or carbonized cylinders and pistons, or any combination of these conditions, or for any other reason.

My object extends to giving this aid if the engine is started by hand-cranking; but with practically all motor vehicle engines now used, the engine is driven, for starting, by an electric motor which in practically all cases derives its current from a storage battery charged by the ve- 20 hicle generator. It is well known that keeping the battery charged to a proper high potential for effective service is one of the most insistent problems in motor vehicle operation. It often happens that when starting under adverse con- 35 ditions such as above mentioned is necessary, the battery lacks in potential; and if it has to supply current for the sparking as well as that for the starting motor, the motor, taking such a large proportion of the battery output, reduces the our- 30 rent available for sparking. Thus a weak spark is had when the conditions are such that a very hot spark is most needed.

Also, the excessive load imposed by the starting motor under such conditions largely enters into 35 reduction of the battery potential. Another object of my invention therefore is realized in eliminating a large part of the overloading of the vehicle battery by avoidance of heavy loading of the starting motor; so that less frequent rea charging of the battery occurs and the life of the battery is lengthened. Also, the wear and tear on the motor and the mechanical and electrical parts associated therewith and with the ignition system is reduced.

4,5 A further and more immediately realized object is to save time in starting the engine under the conditions mentioned; and even to avoid the necessity of obtaining another motor vehicle to tow the vehicle for starting its engine, as often 50 occurs, usually in very cold weather.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description, illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an ignition mech- 55 anism to form part of the ignition apparatus of an internal combustion engine on a motor vehicle, of known construction, for reference in describing my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the distributor disc'of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, used in the normal operation of the engine and vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a like view of the modified distributor disc used in place of the disc of Fig. 2, in accordance with my invention, when the engine is being started; m

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical apparatus and connections, including certain of those forming parts of the normal ignition apparatus, and those making up my auxiliary device in its oper- I ative relation to the normal apparatus, with dash w lines indicating the relation of certain parts in normal operation and solid lines indicating the modified relation during the use of my device; and

Fig. 5 is a much reduced side elevation showing parts of my device mounted as a unit in a portable case with connecting cords or cables extending therefrom, which have intermediate portions omitted for lack of space.

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows approximately the construction of part of one of many different ignition devices used on motor vehicles, there is a base i of circular shape with a bearing hub 2 depending from its central part, mounting the cam shaft 3 on a vertical axis. Below'the hub 2 this shaft has fixed on it a gear 4 understood to mesh with gearing driven by the engine. Above the base I the shaft has fixed onit a cam 5. Surrounding the cam 5, on top of the base, is the base plate 6, fixed to the base I and 86 supporting the connection tongue I, which is insulated from the plate 6 and has the contact block 8. This plate 6 also supports the breaker arm 9, pivoted at I0 thereon to swing under action of the cam 5 and an opposing spring I I (see Fig. 4) to 40 make and break contact with the contact screw I2 which is adjustable in the contact block 8. This breaker device forms no part of my invention, being the normal device for causing the sudden breaks of circuit as part of the normal sparking operation.

The cam shaft 3 has a flange l3 above the cam 5, and an extension l4 above the flange, radially out from which is an upwardly opening socket l5 in the shaft flange I3. The distributor disc I6, which is circular, has a hub I1 depending from its central part, with a socket l8 receiving the shaft extension l4, radially out from which is a pin I9 fixed in and depending from the disc hub IT and entering the shaft flange socket I5. This combination causes the disc It to rotate with the shaft 3 and retain a desired angular relation with the breaker cam 5 thereof; and it permits the disc 5 to be readily taken off of and put onto the shaft 3; all of this arrangement being the normal one in ignition apparatus of the type shown.

on the top face of the distributor disc I6 is the contact member 20, set between two ribs 2i and held to the disc I5 by an eyelet 22 (see Fig. 2 also). This member extends radial to the disc i6 and has a socket 23 opening upwardly on the center line of the disc 56 andshaft 3, and has its outer end approximately coincident with the periphery of the disc I5. This is the description of the arrangement of the disc used in the normal operation of the engine, and is in accordance with the well known construction of apparatus of the type shown. It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 that the contact member 20 is symmetrical along a diametral line (A-A, Fig. 2) which passes through the projected center line of the socket I5 and pin I9. There is thus a certain definite angular relation of this contact member 20 and the cam 5 that operates the breaker arm 9; timing the break with contacts made by the member 20 according to. the design of the apparatus for the most efficient normal operation of the engine.

In the use of my auxiliary apparatus for starting, it is desirable to change this timing, as later will be explained. Therefore a part of my device is a substitute distributor disc Ilia, shown in Fig. 3. As here shown, the body of this disc I6a is identical with the body of the normally used disc I6, with its hub I1 and socket I8, and the top ribs, except that one rib 2Ia has its outer portion 24 reduced in height, the other rib 2| being unchanged. The contact member 20a of this substitute disc I6a. has the inner portion of its length symmetrical to the before mentioned diametral line AA and fitting between the two ribs 2| and 2Ia, and has the socket 23 on the center line of the disc, being in these respects the same as the normally used contact member 20 of Figs. 1 and 2. Like it also it is secured to the disc I641 by the eyelet 22. It is modified in that its outer end part is offset to lie symmetri cally along radial line B angularly displaced from diametral line AA in accordance with the principle of operation later to be described. The reduction of height of rib 2Ia. accommodates this oflset portion of contact member 20a.

Again referring to Fig. l, the distributor cap 25 stands around and over the mechanism above described, with its bottom rim closely fitting the base I, with a notch through which the connection tongue I extends out past the periphery of the base I. This cap 25 is held tightly to the base I by a fixed clip 26 extending up from the periphery of the base and engaging over. an annular shoulder 21 upwardly facing on the cap 25, and a swinging clip 28 pivoted on the periphery of the base I and having a resilient jaw 28' which i snaps into a depression in said annular shoulder 21. This arrangement, the usual one in devices of this type, permits the cap 25 to be readily removed from and placed upon the base I. It will be understood that its alinement with the base may be insured by its fitting closely around breaker base plate 6, as well as by engagement with the clips 26 and 21; and also that in practice two fixed clips 28 are provided and all of the clips are spaced about equally around the device, as is well known of apparatus of this type.

fitting up through the cap top with joint 3| by which a cable is connected to it in a respective neck 32 projecting up from the top of the cap 25. Also of normal construction is the central connection comprising a spring tongue 33 mounted on the cap top and extending down with a stud 34 which bears in the socket 28 of the contact member 20, holding the distributor disc I6 down on its shaft 3 and making electrical connection with contact member 20. A prong member 35 occupies a central neck 36 extending up from the central part of the top of cap and has a stem extending down inside the cap material and connected with the spring tongue 33. The prongs of this member open upwardly, receiving a plug 31 on the end of a cable 38; thus allowing this cable 38 to be readily connected to and disconnected from the distributor device. This detachable connection may be a detail well known in such apparatus, and is especially of advantage in the use of my invention, as will later more clearly appear, and in that respe t only it is regarded as a part of my present invention.

It will be understood that the base I, disc 20 or 20a and cap 25 are of insulating material; such parts now usually being of a synthetic resin composition, molded with such parts as the hubs, ribs and necks integral, with their bodies. Also, it will be seen that my substitute disc 20a of Fig. 3 may be one of such stock discs with a mere cutting away of one rib at 24. Being in all other respects like the stock disc 20, it may be readily slipped onto the camshaft extension I4, its pin I9 entering cam shaft socket I5 and establishing the new angular relation of contact member IGa with shaft 3. The cap 25 having been readily removed for removal of normal disc '20 and placement of substitute disc 20a. as just explained, the cap 25 may as readily be replaced, restoring the device to operative condition for the purpose of my invention. The only other act required is the withdrawal of conductor cable 38 and the insertion of another cable connected to apparatus involved in my invention, now to be described, and shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

The storage battery of the vehicle is shown at 39, with its positive and negative poles 40 and 4|, respectively; and it will be understood that the several other connections, including connections to the vehicle generator for charging the battery in normal operation, would connect with these poles or terminals 40 and 4|; but not entering into a consideration of my invention they are omitted for cleamess. Conductor 42 leads from positive terminal 40 to one end of the primary coil .43 of the ignition coil 0 of the vehicle, having the secondary or high-tension coil and the core 45.

The conductor 46 leads from the opposite end' by the previously described cable 38 having its 7 terminal plug 31 in prong member 35, with distributor contact member 20.

As Fig. 4 is primarily to illustrate use of my device, the normally used conductor 38 and mem-.

' primary'coil 43 with connection tongue I of the breaker device, at 5|; and the breaker arm 9 connects at its pivot III with the plate 6, which is connected to ground 49 by conductor 52. Each of the spark plugs 53, here represented as'spark gaps, has one side connected to ground 49 by conductor 54; these of course actually being grounded to the engine cylinder head in which they are mounted. The other terminal of each plug 54 is connected by a respective one of conductors 55 to a respective one of the previously described buttons 29 on cap 25. The construction just described is the one usual in ignition devices of the type herein employed for illustration. It will be understood that my substit'utedistributor parts may be modified in design to fit distributors of various other designs, of which the art afiords a great variety.

My device includes a transformer D with the ends 01' its inducing coil 56 connected by conductors 5'! and'58 to leads 59 and 60, respectively; understood to carry a dependable and ample supply of current, as for instance the house lighting circuit. Transformer D is shown with a core 6|, and the coil 62 in which the current is induced with a voltage lower than that on leads 59 and 60, preferably the usual motor vehicle voltage which also is the usual voltage obtained by bell-ringing transformers, a suitable one of which may be used as transformer D. Low tension coil 62 has one end connected by conductor 63 with one end of primary coil 64 of induction coil device E, having core 65 attracting vibrator arm 66 from point 66', which is connected through condenser 61, to conductor 61': which connects vibrator arm 66 to the other end of coil 62 in which the current is induced, in the transformer D. The point 66 is connected to the other end of primary coil 64 of induction device E. One end of the' secondary coil of this E is connected to ground 49 through conductor device E is connected to ground 49 through conductor 69 and its detachable connection, shown as a plug I entering between prongs of a prong readily attached to any grounded part of the '38 and contact member 20 engine or vehicle and left attached thereto.

The other end of this secondary coil 68 is connected to a conductor 38a. having, as seen in Fig. 5, a terminal plug 31a; this cable and its plug being such duplicates of normally used cable 38 and its plug 31 that they may be readily inserted or withdrawn, making or breaking connection with the prong member 35 of the distributor. When making this "connection, this substitute conductor 38a connects the ofiset contact member 200 of the substituted disc Ilia with secondary coil 68. As the diagram of Fig. 4 is intended to show the auxiliary device in use, cable 38a and contact member 29a are shown in full lines, whereas normally used conductor are shown by dash lines, as before mentioned.

Fig. shows, in a general Way, my outfit having devices D and E installed inside casing 1|, with the conductors 63 and 61' connecting them together and the condenser 61, a1. inside the easing. From device D conductors 51 and 58 lead out as a two-Wire cable through one end wall of the casing, and end in a prong member 12 of the a button 29 which it the leads 59 and 60. Conductors 38a and 69 lead from device E out through the opposite end wall of easing 1| and end, respectively,'in terminal plugs 31a and before mentioned, for the distributor and ground connections, respectively.

- The remainder of the outfit is the substitute distributor disc l6a before described and shown clearly in Fig. 3. The outfit is thus small, compact and readily portable, and requires no great skill for use, as a means the efiectiveness of which is practically certain and the power of which is ample to produce sparking at the plugs which will insure ignition under the adverse'conditions before mentioned.

It will be seen that my device is connected independently of the breaker device that includes arm 9, so that there is a constant high potential on contact member 20a of my substituted disc l6a. With the normally used disc I 6 in use with my high-powered continuous-potential circuit, and contact member 20 thereof advanced as far as it is for normal operation when the breaker arm 9 controls the potential on the member, there would be danger of closure of circuit across the narrow air gap between the member 20 and is approaching, at which time, with the engine timed for normal operation, the corresponding piston would not have sum-- ciently approached the end of its compression stroke, so that backfiring would result. It is for this reason that I substitute my disc l6a with its member 20a offset in the direction opposite to that of the disc rotation as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. While this may delay the firing more than would be eiricient in normal operation, it does not so delay it as to cause failure of starting, with the much hotter spark my device produces; rnd it does avoid the danger of backfiring above mentioned. This retardation of my device circuit through the button 29 which the contact member 20a is leaving; but this is not apt to cause backflring, since the corresponding piston there will either be far along in its expansion stroke, or else returning on its exhaust stroke, according to the order of firing employed. In any such casethere is either no danger of backfiring, or else backfiring can cause no damage; occurring during exhaust it would be weak, as operative only on residue in the exhaust, and being free .to escape past the exhaust valve.

Operation independently of the breaker device, with the power imposed with my device, is preferable in that the continuity of the hot spark is more likely to attain the desired results than with interruptions; the sparking period being much prolonged compared with the normal one. These conditions of course are wasteful from the viewpoint of normal eflicient operation; but the may result in forming a spark-gap current is the relatively cheap lighting current. and the starting period being only so long as is needed to bring the engine into easy running condition, the waste of currrent, and also of fuel, is negligible. Condenser 61 so reduces flashing from contact member 20a that it and buttons 29 are not seriously affected during the short period the device is used.

The application of the device, considering it as an emergency provision, is simple. Cap 25 and disc I 6 are removed and cable 38 is detached from cap 25 and cable 38a is attached thereto, substitute disc 16a and cap 25 are put in place, and ground connection is made at 10. Then the cable 38a'being-connected to the lighting circuit,

the engine is started by motor or' by hand and allowed-to run with my sparking device until its condition, as to temperature, stiffness, or other defect, has been overcome, so that it will easily start normally. Then the connections 38atide and will reduce the voltage for use of a stock coil device E. A special coil device E to operate directly from high power leads 59 and 60, eliminating transformer D, would be much more expensive than both devices D and E as I use them. However, I am not limited to use of both devices, which is an economy measure, important but not essential.

The need of the device usually arises in the garage, which usually is equipped for electric lighting. If on the road, often some light circuit may be reached by extension from conductors 51 and 58; and the entire outfit may be readily carried in some storage space of the vehicle, ready for use.

My invention is herein illustrated and described rather specifically, but it will be understood modifications will occur; and what I claim is:

1. The method of starting, under adverse conditions, an internal combustion engine utilizing an intermittent current supply to the distributing means thereof, in normal synchronism with the impulse-receiving means of the engine, which comprises substituting for said intermittent current supply a substantially continuous current supply of substantially constant value and having a substantially higher power than the normally used'current supply, and so modifying the synchronism of the two means that the action of the distributing means is retarded in respect of the action of the impulse-receiving means, as

compared with the normal synchronism of the two means.

2. An auxiliary device for modifying the op-' eration of an intemal-combustion-engine ignition apparatus, which apparatus includes, in a 5 circuit in synchronism with said movement, said 15 auxiliary device comprising a contact member readily inserted into the apparatus in operative position therein when said normally used contact member has been removed, for temporary use in absence of said making and breaking means, said temporarily used contact member being so difierently disposed relatively to said contact element as to make retarded contact with said element as compared with the contact made by the normally used contact member, for

the purposes set forth. 3. An auxiliary device as set forth in claim 2,

for use with apparatus as therein set forth, which apparatus includes an enclosure made up of readily separable sections enclosing the contact element and the normally used contact member and also includes a driving member with which said normally used contact'member is readily detachably engageable, for the ready removal and replacement when the sections are separated;

said auxiliary device having like engaging means relatively to which the contact member of said device has the difierent disposition for retarded action of the distributor with said differently disposed contact member inserted therein, as 40 therein set forth.

4 HARRY C. HUGHES. 

